Falls in Older Adults

Author: HCF Management

November 14, 2017

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Did you know that falls are the leading cause of non-fatal and fatal injuries for adults age 65 years and older? Falls can lead to reduced mobility, limited activity and even death. Just one fall can be a life changer – it can be the beginning of the end of your independence.

A few fast facts about falls.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each and every year:

One in three older adults fall and one in five falls causes a serious injury
2.5 million older adults are treated in emergency departments and more than 700,000 are hospitalized for an injury sustained from a fall

More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling with at least 250,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fractures

Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries

More than $34 billion in medical costs are spent

What causes you to fall?

In a nutshell, you can fall when you experience something that challenges your strength, balance and your ability to remain upright. Many conditions – physical, environmental and situational – can increase your risk to fall. Risk factors include:

Physical Conditions:

Poor vision

Medications

Foot pain / numbness or shoes with slippery soles

Lower body weakness or lack of muscle strength

Chronic health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease

Environmental Conditions:

Poor lighting

Lack of stair railings or grab bars in the bathroom

Loose throw rugs or clutter on the floor

Slippery or uneven floors

Uneven or broken sidewalks, walkways or steps

Situational Conditions:

An occasional or temporary event – period of low blood pressure, pet pulling on a leash suddenly, wind or rain storm

Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. It’s simple, the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to fall. The good news – you can reduce your risk or prevent a fall altogether. Here are a few simple tips:

Talk to your doctor about evaluating your fall risks and what you can do to decrease your risk.